The following are simulated football games to determine the best team of the last 15 years. We're putting 16 of the finest MAC football teams (at least one per school) through a 12-game simulation, followed by a four-team playoff and championship game in Detroit. All games are simulated by WhatIfSports (I'd show you the box scores if they archived 'em).
We know very little. At this point we are not even sure why we are still doing this. But it's still fun to look back. So on we go, into the second-to-last regular season week.
Two huge games with both teams trying to cling to a playoff spot: 1999 Marshall visits 2008 Ball State. A win and they're in. A loss and it gets complicated. Exact same situation for 2000 WMU who travels to 2011 OHIO. Additionally 2011 Toledo needs a win to stay on pace. Let's get to the games.
MUNCIE — So, WHOA. Marshall's season is on the line, all of a sudden. A 13-point halftime lead and 9-point lead advantage for Marshall with less than 14 minutes to spare and all BSU did was rattle off four unanswered touchdowns to seal the victory.
A mixed bag of a line for Nate Davis: 21-for-31, 399 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions. MiQuale Lewis ran 22 times for 107 yards and a touchdown, adding 37 receiving yards on four catches. Louis Johnson hauled in three catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
Marshall had a great game from Chad Pennington: 29-for-36, 398 yards and three touchdowns, all of them well distributed. Doug Chapman gained 154 yards from scrimmage and both a receiving and rushing touchdown. Billy Malashevich added to his field goal trove with a 4-for-4 day, long of 47. And Maurice Hines had two interceptions.
So this is just nuts. Marshall will play Akron next week while Ball State draws NIU for the finale.
ATHENS — Well that's the win that OHIO needed to stay alive for the second spot. Now they need a win next week and a WMU loss and the spot is theirs. Donte Harden ran for 128 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown, adding 43 yards receiving. Tyler Tettleton passed 14-for-18 for 192 yards and a touchdown, and the defense got three sacks and tow interceptions.
The lone Broncos touchdown was a pass from Jeff Welsh to Corey Alston, who led the team with four catches for 128 yards. Robert Sanford had but a mere 17 rushes for 59 yards.
TOLEDO — The Rockets have all the yards. If you're looking for one you're missing … they may have it. Terrance Owens threw 30-for-38 times for 397 yards, three touchdowns and an INT. Morgan Williams ran 12 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Adonis Thomas supplemented that with 125 yards on 21 carries. Eric Page caught 11 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. And Ryan Casano knocked in four field goals.
NIU got Michael Turner to go for 166 yards on 27 carries and three touchdowns. He also led the team with three receptions for 76 yards. Phew.
TOLEDO — Yeah, this just screams "boring game."
Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdowns and an interception along with 221 yards on 18-for-28 passing. Martin Nance caught two of those touchdowns to the tune of 78 yards on six catches. Calvin Murray caught the other on a 19-yard catch, and he ran in the fourth TD along with 17 yards on 50 carries.
The Rockets lone touchdown was Tavares Bolden to Manny Johnson. Chester Taylor amassed 86 yards on 27 carries.
OXFORD — Beginning with a 20-0 lead, BGSU escaped Oxford with a win but the last points by Miami came in the final 30 seconds, so a recovered onside kick sealed the win. Omar Jacobs had a solid 30-for-39 passing day with 320 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. P.J. Pope ran 19 times for 127 yards and Charles Sharon led the team with six catches for 98 yards.
For Miami, they did get an 82-yard punt return touchdown (although it does not say who, the real 1997 stats say it was probably either Ryan Rustad or Nod Washington). And Travis Prentice ran 19 times for only 50 yards but did score twice.
MOUNT PLEASANT — That was a scary ... quarter. Antonio Brown capped off the game with an 83-yard touchdown run (I like how Brown always gets a handful of rushes per game) and finished with 123 yards on eight carries, along with five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. Dan LeFevour passed 14-for-21 times for 183 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 20 times for 56 yards.
Temple had Bernard Pierce run 27 times for a hefty 130 yards and a — GASP — touchdown. There was also — DOUBLE GASP — a passing touchdown! Chester Stewart had OK numbers: 12-for-20, 135 yards and a touchdown to Deon Miller.
BUFFALO — They came close in their last two games but the Bulls finally put one away, halting a six-game losing streak. Their big three was incredible: Drew Willy began it with a 31-for-46, 399-yard, three-touchdown game, although he threw an interception. James Starks ran 35 times for 176 yards and a touchdown, adding 42 yards on five catches. One of those catches was a backbreaking 15-yard reception on third down which would've given the Zips a chance to tie or win the game with 2:48 to play. Naaman Roosevelt led the team with 10 catches for 135 yards. A.J. Principe was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, long of 50.
For Akron, Charlie Frye passed 15-for-31 times for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Mike Brake caught four balls for 86 yards and two TDs. Bobby Hendry ran 18 times for 122 yards and a score.
YPSILANTI — Hey, look at that. There was no good dominant EMU team to select. However this one could score on occasion. Matt Bohnet passed for 248 yards on 20-for-26 passing and a touchdown. Eric Deslauriers caught five passes for 81 yards. Anthony Sherrell ran 15 times for 83 yards, and Tim Conner scored twice on rushing TDs, totaling 35 yards on seven carries.
Kent State got a rushing touchdown from Joshua Cribbs to begin the game, but his passing numbers were painful (6-for-22, 67 yards). Nate Wesley sacked the quarterback three times.
STANDINGS
It's going to come down to the final week, no doubt. I might even make it snow, for fun. All we know is Miami won the Ealey Division. WMU needs a win against Josh Cribbs and 2001 Kent State or an OHIO loss to 1997 Miami. Both of them play on the road.
Meanwhile we know NOTHING in the Lambert Division. If Toledo wins a home game against 2009 CMU, they're in. If they lose, they're still in if either Marshall or Ball State lose. The Herd host 2003 Akron while those Fightin' Cardinals draw 2003 Northern Illinois. This could come down to point differential. Or head-to-head. We'll figure it out together.
STAT LEADERS
Rushing:
Robert Sanford (2000 WMU): 1703 yards, 5.95 YPC, 17 TD
Michael Turner (2003 NIU): 1603 yards, 5.55 YPC, 14 TD
Adonis Thomas (2011 Toledo): 1522 yards, 5.95 YPC, 14 TD
Chester Taylor (2000 Toledo): 1461 yards, 4.79 YPC, 8 TD
Bernard Pierce (2011 Temple): 1276 yards, 4.18 YPC, 3 TD
Receiving:
Eric Page (2011 Toledo): 101 catches, 1089 yards, 13 TD
Naaman Roosevelt (2008 Buffalo): 75 catches, 1069 yards, 6 TD
Nate Poole (1999 Marshall): 68 catches, 1067 yards, 5 TD
Martin Nance (2003 Miami): 66 catches, 1054 yards, 10 TD
P.J. Flech (2003 NIU): 73 catches, 1012 yards, 6 TD
Passing (by rating):
Ben Roethlisberger (2003 Miami): 3313 yards, 73.0 pass%, 32 TD, 12 INT (177.6 rating)
Chad Pennington (1999 Marshall): 3598 yards, 68.8 pass%, 24 TD, 11 INT (170.9 rating)
Terrance Owens (2011 Toledo): 3449 yards, 71.0 pass%, 21 TD, 10 INT (162.9 rating)
Omar Jacobs (2004 BGSU): 3163 yards, 72.0 pass%, 21 TD, 6 INT (161.7 rating)
Nate Davis (2008 Ball State): 3311 yards, 64.1 pass%, 32 TD, 12 INT (161.2 rating)
Defense:
Antonio King (2001 Kent State): 11 sacks
JoJuan Armour (1997 Miami): 10 sacks
James Harrison (2001 Kent State): 9 sacks, 2 INT
Nate Wesley (2001 Kent State): 9 sacks
Dustin Cohen (1997 Miami): 8 sacks
Daniel Holtzclaw (2005 EMU): 6 sacks, 4 INT, TD
Rickey McKenzie (2003 Akron): 7 INT
Nashville Dyer (2001 Kent State): 5 INT, TD
Desmond Marrow (2011 Toledo): 5 INT
Keon Newson (2004 BGSU): 5 INT
Ronald Rogers (2000 WMU): 5 INT
Brandon Hefflin (2000 Toledo): 5 INT
Kicking:
Billy Malashevich (1999 Marshall): 28/30 (93%), long 49
Ryan Casano (2011 Toledo): 31/34 (91%), long 48
Dave Pavich (2001 Kent State): 21/24 (88%), long 51
Andrew Guila (2009 CMU): 13/15 (87%), long 50
Steve Azar (2003 NIU): 19/22 (86%), long 49